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Council News

Care over Christmas

22 December 2016

Newcastle City Council’s Adult Social Care services are proud to be going the extra mile for their service users this Christmas.

Byker Lodge and Connie Lewcock Resource Centres for older people, Castle Dene and Welford for people with profound and multiple disabilities as well as the Recovery Support Team for those with mental health problems have put a fantastically festive programme of events in place to wish the people using their service a very merry Christmas.

The Welford Centre, which is a day service for adults with profound and multiple disabilities, has been feeling festive since November with a packed week of Christmas cheer launching on Monday 19th December. The Centre, which is based in Gosforth and has around 60 service users welcomed the Bridgewater School Choir on Monday 19 December and their staff took to the stage on Tuesday 20 entertaining everyone with a series of Christmas carols.

The Care at Home Reablement Team along with colleagues from health are working everyday over the holidays to ensure people have good care and support to prevent hospital admission or to be discharged from hospital to be in their own home for Christmas

Residential Services are also creating festive cheer. The Recovery Support Team’s residential support unit in Walker, supports its residents all year – including Christmas Day

To make this extra special each resident receives a stocking on their door on Christmas Eve and a gift. This is followed up on Christmas Day when a full lunch is prepared by the staff and served to the 16 residents. The staff also run these meals into the community and take them to local service users who may be alone over Christmas. Whilst the Outreach Team are on call and visiting service users every day of the holiday period.

“The commitment to catering for our residents doesn’t stop there. Our Meals at Home service delivers 365 days a year delivering quality, high standard meals. The service will deliver a two course hot meal on Christmas Day, sourced from local ingredients, and in line with national nutritional guidelines. The friendly team of drivers are also trained to identify any age related illness and potential wellbeing problems for the resident and will contact a family member, friend or doctor if required.”

Councillor Karen Kilgour, cabinet member for Adults and Health said:

“The commitment of our staff across our Care Services is always fantastic, however at Christmas they really go all out to ensure all our residents feel festive.

Christmas can be a tricky time for families across the City, especially those who have relatives accessing our services, this commitment to the festive period means everyone can celebrate.

It can be an extremely tough period for those service users who aren’t able to be family and the work of services like Scrogg Road is brilliant.

There is a real sense of community within our care services and I would like to send a special thank you to volunteers and school groups who are always on hand to provide entertainment and support.

A final thanks should also be extended to all the staff who will continue to work tirelessly over Christmas and will continue their fantastic work into the New Year”